RSSHappy Holidays 2008 from BetaNews
By Nate Mook | Published December 25, 2008, 12:00 AM
As 2008 winds down, we at BetaNews would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude for all of the support we have received from our devoted readers, software authors and downloaders over the past twelve months.
This has been a difficult year for many, but one that has also inspired a generation to stand up and participate in a way that hasn't been seen in decades. The arrival of 2009 brings promises of change, and hope that better days are ahead, that we can fix the problems caused by years of bad governing and a corrupt financial system.
Technology has been at the center of this economic meltdown, and that fact will surely be noted by many as CES 2009 kicks off the first week of January. Less attendees, lack of new gadgets, and struggling companies will be the topics of the day. However, just as technology is directly impacted by lower spending and shrinking IT budgets, the industry will also be responsible for our eventual economic recovery.
Virtualization and cloud computing will help cut costs, new systems will be developed for better regulating the complex financial markets, and innovation on the Web will further change the way businesses interact with customers. Equally as important, green technologies will help us reverse our environmental free fall and create a future that we will be proud to pass on to generations to come.
These areas will be the focus of BetaNews over the next year, including our live coverage from CES 2009 in just two weeks. And believe it or not, there's quite a bit to look forward to: Windows 7 Beta 1 will make its debut in the coming months, with Windows Vista Service Pack 2 also on the horizon. Touch computing will continue its march to the mainstream, while Blu-ray will struggle to gain adoption in an increasingly disc-less world.
With HD DVD now obsolete, we will see a new format war emerge in the 4G wireless world between Sprint's WiMax and Verizon's LTE, as Microsoft and Amazon duke it out to control cloud computing. 2009 could also be the year we say goodbye to Steve Jobs as the public face of Apple (if his absence from Macworld is any indication), just as we said goodbye to Bill Gates in 2008 (Steve Ballmer will now give the opening keynote at CES).
As for BetaNews, we will continue to strive to bring you the latest information and analysis of what's happening in the tech world, as it impacts all of us more and more each day. This year we welcomed to the BetaNews team Jackie Emigh from Ziff Davis, and recently Angela Gunn from Computerworld and USA Today. There's a great deal in store for 2009, so stay tuned!
In what has become a tradition here at BetaNews, we wish all of you a safe and happy holiday as you celebrate with family and friends. Although we are on an abbreviated schedule until early January, be sure to check for new beta releases or jot a quick greeting to the staff.
another year gone her at romper room where it nothing but filled with 13 year olds and teens who think they can write professional news articles. make yourselves a new years resolution to just post beta programs and give up on 4th rate news
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|Why do you still read then? STOP READING IF YOU DON'T LIKE IT. It's commenters like you which kind of make me glad I've moved on from BN...
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|I agree with MikeTechno. BetaNews.com is the best of it's kind. It's one of a very few select sites I never miss on my daily surfing! I hope to continue to enjoy the site in the future!
Best Regards to all the Staff!
Wild-One
AKA Dan Files
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|I have to say, I absolutely LOVE BetaNews.com. Hands down, it is the #1 tech news and info/beta software site on the net. BetaNews.com just does it right. I would like to see BetaNews expand into other media actually. Not sure how they would do it but I would love to see a BetaNews based radio talk show or a live TV show series. I think the concept of BetaNews is a great one and it has a lot of potential to grow and be expanded on into other (interactive) forms of media. Well done BetaNews.com. Keep up the great work. Best site on the net! No question about it.
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|Merry Christmas and Happy New Year BetaNews!
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|"..caused by years of bad governing and a corrupt financial system." Now what has changed to fix the corruption of the financial system? We just gave out billions of dollars which are completely unaccounted for.
"..brings promises of change, and hope that better days are ahead.." This sounds like an ad for Obama. Fine, lets hope he actually does something, Truth is he couldn't possibly live up to the promises he has made. I also am not certain his kind of "change" is the right one either. Liberals and Republicans are no different. Real change would have been Nader, Perot, or Ron Paul. Outside of them the rest are same ole same ole.
Anyways, I'll hope your right, but I dont' expect anything.
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|The main problem is that far too may Americans actually believe that the USA is a democracy. It is not and has never been a democracy.
If you want to see one look north.
Ron Paul, being a libertopian, would really be no different in the long run than a republican since many of their ideas, such as no taxes or regulations to name a couple, are the same with the same results as well.
The US' only real hope is to become more socialistic, like most of the other Western nations are. Capitalism as the primary motivation in America has greatly failed far too many of its own citizens. Of course those who benefited from this disaster would say otherwise, but they're part of the problem,not the solution and they have screwed America over for far too long in the name of patriotism as it is.
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|Maybe, but at least Ron Paul had the right kind of "change" that's really needed. If you haven't noticed we're privatizing banks, probably autos, and who knows what else (the retails are asking for bailout bucks now). Where was the bailout for the dot coms? Oh, too many "rich" people that weren't management would have benefited, so nothing to them. Lets pour money to execs.
Anyways, socialism doesn't work either (look at the Russian monetary system, especially late 80s and early 90s). They are just now getting stable (though a report suggested they're having problems again). Anyways, no system is perfect, and I believe your kind of right in that a bit of all the systems may be necessary.
Yes, America is no longer a democracy. We abandoned that with no term limits for congressmen, a two party system that sucks, and unaccountable spending of the govt.
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|Privatizing the wrong things is also part of the problem. And Russia was a communist country, big difference. BTW, China is a communist country as well and look at how well they're doing. They're even financing your debt. I have a feeling that Russia would be happier back at being a feudal system.
Canada has what is called a socialistic capitalist economic system that blends the best of both systems.
No, America was never a democracy. Its a Constitution-based federal republic with a strong democratic tradition.
Canada is a parliamentary democracy with more than two parties where a majority of the other parties can get together and have a no confidence vote and oust the government overnight. This may happen after the Christmas holidays again. Our government fears us, not the other way around. That's democracy.
Also, quality of life tends to be higher in socialistic nations than those that are not. (Not the same thing as standard of living. You can have a higher standard of living and still have lower quality of life.) BTW, I'm not advocating communism.
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|Get a room you two. ;)
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|Why the homophobic comment?
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|How does this topic get started in a Happy Holidays news post? I thought this was an electronics news site. Not a government debate site.
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|That is call humor and has nothing to do with what your thinking.
How about something you may understand?
Get a clue.
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|You never know here, that's why I like BetaNews so much. Topics go in so many directions. Maybe Obama will save Sony? Maybe Obama will provide a free Blu-Ray player to everyone in the US. HEHE - now its closer to topic :)
Basically, I'm just sick of hearing how great things will be with Obama, who hasn't done anything. The govt can't save us, we the people can only do that for ourselves. That's what I'd have liked to hear instead of more Obama hype.
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|Oh I can assure you there won't be any of that Obama hype BS coming from me. Personally I think both candidates were crappy, but he took the crown IMO. He is nothing but a big talker.
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|Thank you Nate, and Happy Holidays to the BetaNews staff. I'm a news hound and the BetaNews authors consistently publish thorough and unique angles and content. The impact of Jackie Emigh and Angela Gunn were immediate, and they've both been a breath of fresh air on open source topics. We're grateful for all the hard work you each do.
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|Jackie is a great writer, I find her articles very pleasant to read... I know she has her non-fans on here, but the lady knows her stuff.
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|Merry Christmas to Betanews and its Staff, I just hope you get software providers, to make better email, adding photos, a better graphical inter-face, something senior citizens want and use everyday, and disabled veterans use everyday...something easy to use, easy to communicate, like video, and web cam, and most of all help the Media Center people, who have the Media Center on there computers...until then have a nice week and Happy New Year...
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|Thanks BetaNews for a very informative year and your continued work to keep the tech folks "in the loop"
Merry Xmas and Happy New Year
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|Hey Zeus Christo,
Hope all you miserable negative posters' have a very miserable day to match the complexion, and substance of your rants.
Pleased to meet you all, hope you've guessed my name!
Board is now populated by imbeciles, 'tards & those that are remiss/forget to take their daily intake of meds.
Dummies abound!!!
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|Happy Christmas all. I hope Santa brought you all you wanted. Take care.
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|Happy Hannamas & Merry New Year
Good Karma & enjoyable bickering to all the comment posting geeks here-
And thanks to the BetaNews staff for keeping the place up & running
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|Happy holidays to all and I hope everyone here is enjoying their new iPhones, iPods and Macs!
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|Merry Christmas everyone and a Happy New Year!!!
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|Thanks and have a great Holiday time for the whole staff as well, Merry Christmas!
Great site and content!
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|Merry Christmas to all the staff of BetaNews, it has been a great year!
and Merry Christmas to all the Commenters that sometimes we disagree, but today is a day of peace.
and to all those readers that just come here to learn, i got something for you: Merry Christmas!!
Best Wishes to all of you
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|Merry Christmas to everyone and have a happy New Year.
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|And what kind of Holidays may that be? You mean Christmas? If so, why don't you then NAME what you are talking about?
I am an atheist but I find it sickening the way American maneuver around the term Christmas. Stop the political correctness and name what's going on this time of year.
Merry Christmas to all!
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|Uh, how about hanukkah and new years? They can't say happy holidays to be all inclusive?
The term "happy holidays" around the holidays makes you sick? That's just sad...
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|You left out Tet, Winter Solstice, Kwanzaa, and (depending on the calendar rotation) Ramadan.
Have a merry Tethankwanramasolsticemas!
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|So, the OP must have been really upset his entire life because, for the last 27 years of my life, I can recall people saying Happy holidays. Some people, in my honest opinion, post simply to see their name on the screen. Ignore him, this is not just an American thing as it's all over the world that people use the terms "Happy Holidays" for this time period given that there are quite a few different things going on at this time of year.
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|You're an idiot, that's what's going on this time of year.
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|I guess BN mods removed my post, but you're still an idiot.
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|and a happy festivus to all as well :)
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|No, they just modded it down. Check you preferences. You can set it to view negatively moderated comments.
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|Happy Chrismahanukwanza! ;)
If you want to say "Christmas", go for it!
Your intolerance of others being inclusive is about as offensive as you claim the atheists are being.
Perhaps a little tolerance is in order?
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|"(Steve Ballmer will now give the opening keynote at CES)"
Damn you Santa! All I wanted was for it not to be him.
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|lol
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|So many things I could take issue with in this piece..but, just for today, Merry Christmas, Happy Hannakuh and Happy Holidays to all!
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|Happy Horus Day everyone....
http://www.religioustolerance.org/chr_jcpa5.htm
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|g** d***it, there goes my faith. jk, lol.
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all!
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